The drops of rain hammering sideways onto the flooded pavement didn’t once let up Tuesday, Nov. 25. It was the day of one of the holiday turkey drives, hosted by the United Food of Plant City. When Executive Director Christine Miller pulled up sheltered in her car, she saw a line of people snaking around the front of the building and veering down the side.
The food bank didn’t open until 9 a.m. It was 8 a.m.
A lot of the patrons had walked in the rain, already drenched from their journey. One damp woman told Miller she had been in line since 7 a.m. in hopes of securing a holiday meal — and some normalcy — for her family.
At the back of the line was a child in a wheelchair. A guardian was hovering over him with an umbrella.
“They were standing in the rain — in a lighting storm — for four hours,” Miller said, recalling the day.
Every single turkey was given away that day: 450 total.
“People want to hang on to those traditions — to feel whole,” Miller said. “I like to think we are making a difference. We fill in the gaps.”
The place of sanctuary on Alsobrook Street has been making a difference since it opened. Miller took over as executive director in 2012. Even in her short time there, she has seen the need increase.
In 2012, the food bank was able to serve 12,000. In 2014: 30,000.
“The biggest change would be the growth,” Miller said. “The economy is supposably getting better, but the need is still there. The only thing I can think of … is we go to schools and tell the principals and social workers about our services.
“We focus on the kids. We want to break the generational cycle of poverty.”
Miller recognizes the need in the community. And because of that, she has some changes planned for 2015 to better help those children she’s so passionate about.
TIME’S ON YOUR SIDE
Starting Jan. 1, the food bank has made one simple change to help its clients that is going to make an impact. It has altered its hours.
“It’s a big deal,” Miller said. “For some, it wouldn’t seem like a big deal, but it is.”
From now on, the food bank is open every weekday. On Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, it will be open from 12 to 3:30 p.m. On Tuesdays, it will have extended hours from 12 to 6:45 p.m.
Before, it closed at 1 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and at 5 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. This was leaving out a huge part of its base. Many couldn’t get off work in time to make it to the food bank before 5 p.m., much less 1 p.m.
For those who stay at home, the afternoons are much more convenient for them to come to the food bank, in between dropping off and picking up their kids from school.
“We had to see when our busy times were,” Miller said. “I think it’s going to be very successful to be open — especially that one day late.”
In addition to time changes, the food bank has a new marketing director, Debbie Youngblood, who is in charge of social media, the website, the email newsletter and organizing the food bank’s many fundraising events.
FOR THE KIDS
And although Miller is excited about the new changes on the horizon, she looks around at her empty shelves, taxed from the holidays. She gets up at 3 a.m. every morning, wracking her brain for ways to keep the shelves stocked. It’s a natural circadian rhythm of her daily challenge: food comes in, food goes out.
This year, 12 Plant City elementary schools, all three middle schools, Advantage Academy, Simmons Career Center and Plant City High School are Title 1 schools. Title 1 schools are schools where at least 75% of students qualify for free or reduced price meals. Federal funds are then distributed to the schools for added services. Those empty shelves are physical testaments to where the food is going. But, the food also comes from the same place. Area six schools are some of the largest donors to the food bank. Every year, they have a canned food drive competition.
“The shelves were really empty in (2014),” Miller said. “Donations were up significantly, but so was the outgoing food.”
She sees it as a personal failure if the food isn’t there.
“That’s the drive,” Miller said. “I really do believe I was meant to do this.”
In fact, Miller was meant to do it. Her resume had mysteriously ended up on the pile when the board was looking for a new executive director in 2012. She, however, wasn’t looking for a job.
“After visiting with the committee, I really wanted the job,” Miller said.
Worlds Collide
Just as passionate as Miller is, her volunteers are, too. They range from her own kids, Colton, 14, and Emma, 12, (and 10-month-old Harper, when she’s old enough), to Rotary Club members. Some of her most excited volunteers come from the local schools, like National Junior Honor Society members from Tomlin Middle School. But many of the clients they help happen to be their fellow Tomlin classmates or parents of friends.
“Two worlds collide,” Miller said.
The food bank is a revolving door of people from all walks of life.
There are those seeking assistance, and there are those coming in to write fat donation checks.
There are those standing in the pouring rain for a glimmer of holiday spirit, and there are those unloading food from their Mercedes in the pouring rain and high heels.
But, the clients of the food bank aren’t always who people would think them to be. Some have gone into foreclosure, lost their jobs, gotten a divorce. Some are your neighbors.
Clients of the food bank can pick up food once every six months, further cementing the food bank’s motto that it is “a hand up, not a hand out.”
Miller believes strongly in this mantra, which is why she started a financial literacy course that teaches families how to budget and about banking. She also partnered with Focus 4 Beauty to refer clients to the cosmetology school if they needed a haircut for a job interview or for the first day of school.
“They’re no different than me,” Miller said. “They’re just doing the best they can to put a meal on the table. What are we doing to change this? How are we helping them?”
— Amber Jurgensen
